Toolholder for tank type vacuum cleaners



Aug. 25, 1953 e. R. FADNER TOOLHOLDER FOR TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1949 INVENTOR.

GLENN R.- FADNER BY 3 z i ATTORNEY.

1953 I G. R. FADNER 2,649,606

TOQLHOLDER FOR TANK TYPE VAC UUM CLEANERS Filed March 4, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tiy. J

INVENTOR.

GLENN R. FADNER ATTOR EV.

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 TOOLHOLDER FOR TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANERS Glenn It. Fadner, Oshkosh, Wis., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich; Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application March 4, 1949, Serial No. 79,536

4 Claims. (Cl. -323) This invention relates to an improved type of tool holding rack for holding accessory vacuum cleaner tools or, alternatively, adapted for mounting on the outer surface of a conventional cylindrical or tank type vacuum cleaner whereupon the usual cleaning tools are more readily accessible and more conveniently available for everyday use.

More particularly, this invention embraces a functionally and structurally improved tool holding device by means of which the operator of a vacuum cleaner maintains his accessory equipment in a more orderly arrangement than was heretofore possible.

It is an object of this invention to provide tool holding means whereby the operator of the cleaner may readily select any on or more of several cleaning tools necessary to effect a complete house cleaning chore conveniently from the immediate outer surface of the vacuum cleaner tank.

It is a further primary object of this invention to provide a tool carrier of the above indicated type by means of which various tools such as brushes, rug cleaning devices, nozzles, etc., may be rendered immediately accessible and with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator.

Still another object is to provide a tool carrier which will hold the various cleaning implements securely and eliminate any tendency of accidental dislodgment or detachment in use.

A further object is to provide means for keeping the various cleaning tools in a more orderly arrangement than was heretofore possible.

Still other and variously otherwise important objects, will become apparent from the examples given herein and other and similar objects will suggest themselves to those versed in the related art.

To this end the invention is more particularly described herein as applied to a tool holding rack which is removably mountable upon the upper portion of a tank type cylindrical vacuum cleaner although such a specialized use is to be taken as merely illustrative and not limitative of the invention which may be used independently as a tool holder per se.

Th improvements and advantages of this invention are more readily appreciated when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming an illustrative part of this description and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional tank type or cylindrical vacuum cleaner with the tool holding rack and tools mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a similar perspective view of the tool holding rack with tools removed; and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the combined unit of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, a conventional tank or substantially cylindrical vacuum cleaner Ill, Fig. 1, is shown with the saddle-like structure 20 holding the various cleaning tools, nozzles, etc., 2|, 22, 23 and 24. Tool holder 2!! is securely mounted on top of the vacuum cleaner casing I I by fastening means 25 which removably engages a ridge within front cover assembly [2 while additional means, explained below, secures the other end to the rear cover assembly l-3.

The saddle-like tool holding device 20 is shown more clearly in Fig. 2 where the cleaning tools have been removed. Thus, it comprises a rigid metallic plate member or sheet 30 of cylindrical shape or arcuate cross-sectional conformation conforming to and serving to cover substantially the upper half of the vacuum cleaner casing H. A cut-out portion 3|, Figs. 2 and 3, is provided for the passage therethrough of protruding handle l5 and front fastening it of the handle assembly.

In order to anchor the saddle-like tool holder 2i] securely in place, projecting tongues or protruding members 32, insertable under the edge of rear body ring I! and above cleaner casing ll, extend beyond the rear edges of tool holder 20. A removably engageable clamp assembly 33 having an over-center type of latch holding arrangement serves to hold the front end of the tool holder 20 securely in place against the front body ring l8 of front cover assembly l2. In its conforming mounted position, the tool holder fits snugly above name plate l9 and between the rear and front body rings, I! and I8, respectively.

A body covering of leatherette 34 enhances the appearance of the tool holder, making it appear as if it were an integral part of the vacuum cleaner body assembly.

As shown, spring clamps 35, 36 and 31, 38 riveted to the metallic sheet 30 serve to hold the floor brush 2| and the rug nozzle 24 securely in place. The various other smaller special purpose cleaning tools, such as an upholstery cleaner or curtain cleaner 23 and a dusting brush 22 are more conveniently mounted on expanding spring mounts 40, 4| which enter the interior of the necks of tools 22 and 23 in order to secure them in a readily accessible position on the back of the vacuum cleaner assembly.

It is to be noted that this new type tool holder is capable of many uses being readily mounted on top of the conventional cylindrical or tank type vacuum cleaner by simple clamping means. The mere removal of front cover 1? enables the operator to snap clamp 33 securely into place after which the cover i2 is put into place. Moreover, the tool holder may be used by itself asra supporting frame for holding the tools in a readily accessible manner.

It is to be understood that the example given in the appended drawing-sand descuibedin the specification is merely an illustrative; embodiment of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a tank type vacuum cleaner having a horizontal substantially cylindrical casing, a front cover assembly and a rear cover assembly each capping the corresponding end; of said casing, a structure comprising .a section of a cylinder having substantially the same curvatune as said casing mounted over the upper portion of said Cylindrical casing and between the front and rear cover assemblies, means on said structure at one end thereof extending between the edge of the rear cover assembly and the cylindri-cal casing for holding the structure from lifting off said cylindrical casing,.means at the other end of said structure for holding the structure securely to the front cover assembly and a plurality of spring clip members mounted on said structure for holding cleaningtools for said vacuum cleaner.

2; In combination; a tank type vacuum cleaner having a horizontal substantially cylindrical easing and a front cover assembly and rear cover assembly each capping the corresponding end of said casing, a handle secured to the upper side of said casing, a structure mounted, over the upper portion of said cylindrical casing and between the front and rear cover assemblies, said structm'e-having an aperturethrough which said llan'dle extends to thereby restrain lateral displacement of said structure with respect to said casing, removably engageabi'e means on said structure at one-curl thereof extending between the edge of the rear cover assembly and the cylindrical casing for holding the. structure from lifting off said cylindrical casing, means removably engageable at the other end of said structure for holding the structure securely to the front cover assembly, and a plurality of spring clip members mounted on said structure for holding cleaning tools for said vacuum cleaner.

3. In combination with a tank type vacuum cleaner having a normally horizontally disposed casing and a handle, a holder for attachments for use with the cleaner comprising a plate member of arcuate cross-sectional conformation mounted over the upper portion of said casi and of a configuration to lie upon and closely conform to saidportion of the casing, said plate member having aslot for accommodating said handle; attaching means on said plate member for securing the latter upon said casing, and a plurality of holding members mounted upon said plate. member in a manner to retain cleaning tools for said vacuum cleaner in close proximity to said casing.

4. A holder for attachments for use with a vacuum cleaner comprising a plate member of arcuate cross-sectional conformation adapted to be mounted over the upper portion of said cleaner and of a configuration to lie upon and closely conform to said portion of said cleaner, attach ing means on said plate member for securing the latter upon said cleaner, said plate member having a slot for accommodating the handle of the cleaner, and a plurality of holding members mounted upon said plate member a manner to retain cleaning tools for use in connection With said cleaner.

GLENN FADNER.

Beferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,248,585 Ross July 8, 19 11 2,293,85Q Scott Aug. 25, 1942 2,450,172 Stoner Sept. 28', 1948 2,534,122 Hamala Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 337,319 Great Britain Oct. 30, 1930 431,014 Gerat Britain June 28, 1935 894,841 France Jan. 8, 19435 

